The Museum of Arts and Crafts, Zagreb was founded in 1880 by the Arts Association. It was first established to present a collection of models for master craftspeople and artists in order to reinvigorate the production of everyday items. While preserving the traditional craft values of local people, it also helped facilitate a new aesthetic culture for the middle class. The museum is spread across two floors, with objects presented chronologically to illustrate stylistic periods from Gothic to Art Deco. The objects paint a picture of the lifestyle at the time.

Almost 3,000 exhibits showcase ceramics, glass, metal, fabric and sculpture, providing insight into the development of artistic and craft production from the late Middle Ages until the present day. Esteemed works from the likes of Meissen are represented alongside those of Johann Joachim Kaendler, showcasing a truly magnificent calibre of work. Since some of the collections comprise several thousand objects, viewers can almost expect micro-museums within a museum.